Portable document container

ABSTRACT

A container adapted for use by a child in storing and transporting rolled documents is provided. The container is generally cylindrical, having a hinged container lid and a carry handle attached to the hinge mechanism to facilitate carrying by hand or attachment to another transported item, such as a child&#39;s backpack.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/564,033 filed Nov. 28, 2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a container for storing documents. More particularly, the present invention relates to a document container adapted for use by children, for example in transporting documents between school and home.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children are frequently required to transport paperwork, artwork, tests, notes, and other documents to and from school. These documents are typically transported in a child's backpack, where they may be creased, crumpled, torn, or otherwise damaged. Moreover, the documents may not be easily located among books, clothing, lunch bags, shoes, and other items that may be carried in the child's backpack, and may therefore not be readily available to the child's guardian or teacher.

It is well known that cylinders such as cardboard tubes may be used to store documents. For example, gift wrap is often rolled about a cardboard tube and secured with cellophane; and architectural or engineering drawings are commonly stored and transported within large cardboard tubes, which may include a shoulder strap secured thereto.

Existing cylindrical document containers may provide a post or document-rolling mechanism within the container. U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,504 describes a cylindrical container for storage of engineering drawings. The container is intended to be permanently attached with brackets to the piece of equipment corresponding to the drawings, such that the drawings will be readily available when needed, for example during equipment maintenance. A post depends from the container lid and is received within the cylindrical container when the container is closed. At one end of the container, a container lid with rotatable locking means may be attached. The post is adapted for securing an edge of a drawing such that the drawing may be rolled up around the post and stored in the closed container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,656 describes a carrying case for use in transporting a variety of collected objects. The case includes a snap-on cylindrical holder of sufficient volume for transporting a variety of pictures or posters in rolled form, to avoid folding and creasing these items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage container suitable for use by a child in transporting documents.

In accordance with a first embodiment, there is provided a container adapted for use by a child in storing and transporting rolled documents, the container comprising: a cylindrical housing having a closed first end and an open second end, the cylindrical housing thereby defining an interior storage chamber of suitable size to contain a rolled document, and wherein all surfaces of the interior storage chamber are smooth, being free of any ridge, lip, or protrusion; a container lid securable against the open second end of the cylindrical housing to close the storage chamber; a first hinge mount operatively attached to the container lid adjacent an edge of the container lid; a second hinge mount operatively attached to the cylindrical housing adjacent the open second end; each of the first and second hinge mounts positioned so as to correspond with one another, when the container lid is mated with the cylindrical housing, to form a hinge channel for receiving a hinge pin; a hinge pin extending through the hinge channel formed by the first and second hinge mounts to facilitate hinged manipulation of the container lid to open and close the open second end of the container; and a carrying handle continuous with the hinge pin.

In an embodiment, the carrying handle is pivotably attached to the hinge pin.

In another embodiment, the container further comprises a locking mechanism between the container lid and the open second end of the container.

The open second end may have a recessed upper edge for mating with the container lid. The recessed upper edge may include a retention ridge protruding from the recessed upper edge that is mateable with a notch in the container lid to form a locking mechanism.

In an embodiment, the side walls are tapered so as to narrow the cylindrical housing from the open end to the closed first end.

The carry handle may be adapted for attachment to a backpack. The carry handle may include an integrated carabiner, clip, key ring, or clasp.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a document storage container, in one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the document storage container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the hinge mechanism of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top front perspective view of the hinge mechanism when the container lid of the storage container of FIG. 1 is open; and

FIG. 5 is a top rear perspective view of the hinge mechanism shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, the present invention provides a container for use in storing and transporting documents.

Small children attending elementary school have varying levels of manual dexterity and organizational abilities. That is, children may be unable to consistently manipulate threaded containers (such as drink containers), or to neatly fold papers and tuck them tidily into their backpacks for safe keeping. Further, children may be unable or unwilling to take the time and effort required to ensure papers and other fragile items are transported carefully between home and school. As a result, children may become frustrated by the results of these inabilities.

With reference to the Figures, a storage and transport container 10 is shown that is suitably sized for receiving documents, photographs, artwork, and other small items commonly transported by a child. The storage container includes a container lid 15 that may be opened and closed by simple upward or downward application of a minimal threshold force. When the container lid 15 is opened, unobstructed access to the open end 12 of the container 10 is provided.

The force required to open the container is applied independent of the force required to transport the container. That is, the container may be transported by pivotable carry handle 20 while the container lid 15 is in either the open or closed position, and the container lid 15 may be opened and closed at will during transport without impeding transport via the carry handle 20. Notably, transport of the container by the carry handle 20 does not apply an opening force to the lid, and therefore the threshold force required to open the lid can be kept to a minimum.

Storage Chamber

A storage chamber 13 is generally defined by side walls 11 and a closed bottom surface 14 of the container. The storage chamber 13 is intended to house papers, artwork, or other items to avoid damage during transport by a child. For example, a child may roll a painting, drawing, or note and insert the rolled document into the storage chamber. Once inserted, the diameter of the rolled document will expand within the storage chamber to rest against the interior side walls 11 a of the container. The chamber walls may be tapered for ease of inserting and removing documents. The surface of the interior walls 11 a that surround the storage chamber are smooth, having no lip, ridge, or protrusion that would impede insertion or retrieval of a rolled document from the storage chamber.

The walls of the storage chamber should be at least about 8¾ inches high to accommodate a letter-sized sheet of rolled paper, without need to fold the paper prior to rolling. The diameter of the storage chamber should be at least about 2 inches, to accommodate a child's hand in reaching into the storage chamber to grasp an edge of a rolled document contained within the chamber.

Container Lid

A container lid 15 is provided for closing the storage chamber. The container lid 15 fits over the open end 12 of the container 10, and may also cooperate with the side walls at the open end to lock the container lid in place to further protect the container contents. It is preferable that any locking mechanism be simple, requiring minimal manual dexterity to operate, and necessitating application of only a minimum threshold opening or closing force so as to be actuable by a child.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the edge of the open end is recessed 12 a from the side walls such that the container lid may fit over the recessed edge to close the container, with the container lid generally flush with the outer surface of the side walls when the container lid is closed. It is noted that an opposite configuration, in which the inner edge of the open end recessed with the container lid inserted within the side walls of the open end, may damage documents within the container when the container lid is closed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the recessed edge 12 a includes a minimal retention ridge 19 that becomes engaged by a corresponding notch within the container lid when closed.

The container lid is attached to the container walls via a hinge mechanism. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, both the container lid and container bear hinge mounts 16, 17, respectively, that correspond to form a hinge channel. The hinge mount 16 of the container lid depends from the edge of the container lid, extending the hinge channel outward from the edge of the container lid. Similarly, the hinge mount 17 of the side walls are positioned adjacent the open end of the container, but extend the hinge channel outwardly from the side of the container. Such outward extension ensures that the container may be opened to provide access to the full diameter of the open end of the storage chamber, facilitating insertion and removal of rolled documents without damaging same. A hinge pin 18 is inserted through the hinge channel to allow hinged actuation of the container lid to open and close the container.

In an alternate configuration, the container lid may be attached to the container by a vertical hinge, in which case the container lid is pivoted from side to side, or raised and lowered on the hinge to open or close the container. Locking of the container lid against the container is not required.

Carry Handle

The storage container includes a carry handle 20 for use in transporting the container, or in attachment of the container to another portable item such as a backpack. For example, the carry handle 20 may include a carabiner, key ring, clasp, or other retention mechanism to facilitate such attachment. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the carry handle 20 is operatively associated with the container lid by a common hinge mechanism. This allows the carry handle 20 and container lid 15 to operate independently, providing versatility and ease of use suitable to the needs and abilities of small children.

Notably, the attachment of the carry handle 20 to the hinge pin is not directly attached to the top of the container lid, and therefore does not exert an upward pulling force on the container lid during transport. This feature provides for rotation of the handle, but ensures that the container remains openable upon exertion of a very minimal threshold force, avoiding a threaded closure or other significant locking mechanism. Ease of opening is an important feature to facilitate use by a child. Accordingly, if the handle were attached directly to the top of the container lid, a significant locking mechanism would be required to prevent accidental opening. A threaded container lid and container walls may be too difficult for a child to open.

The carry handle forms a continuation of the hinge mechanism between the container lid and the container walls. That is, the hinge pin 18 that permits hinged actuation of the pin within the hinge mounts attached to the walls and container lid of the container, extends from the hinge channel. The protruding ends of the hinge pin 18 are integral with, or attached to, the carry handle 20. As shown in FIG. 3 through 5, the carry handle 20 is curved from one end of the hinge channel to the other, engaging both ends of the hinge pin. As a result, the carry handle is also hingedly attached to the container, operating as an extension of the hinge pin, and allowing the container to freely dangle from the handle when transported.

The independence of movement in both the container lid and the carry handle provides significant versatility in use. For example, the container can be carried by carry handle when the container lid is open or closed, and the container lid can be opened and closed during transport. The container can be manipulated about the carry handle without detaching the carry handle from the means of transport (for example while attached to a backpack).

In an alternate hinge orientation, the hinge pin is oriented vertically, or aligned with the elongated walls of the container. In this embodiment, the container lid is pivoted from side to side to open or close the container, and the carry handle would attach to the top and bottom ends of the hinge pin. The carry handle may be configured to attach to the vertically oriented hinge pin, while having a shape suitable for carrying by hand or attached to another transported item.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container adapted for use by a child in storing and transporting rolled documents, the container comprising: a cylindrical housing having a closed first end and an open second end, the cylindrical housing thereby defining an interior storage chamber of suitable size to contain a rolled document, and wherein all surfaces of the interior storage chamber are smooth, being free of any ridge, lip, or protrusion; a container lid securable against the open second end of the cylindrical housing to close the storage chamber; a first hinge mount operatively attached to the container lid adjacent an edge of the container lid; a second hinge mount operatively attached to the cylindrical housing adjacent the open second end; each of the first and second hinge mounts positioned so as to correspond with one another, when the container lid is mated with the cylindrical housing, to form a hinge channel for receiving a hinge pin; a hinge pin extending through the hinge channel formed by the first and second hinge mounts to facilitate hinged manipulation of the container lid to open and close the open second end of the container; and a carrying handle continuous with the hinge pin.
 2. The container as in claim 1, wherein the carrying handle is pivotably attached to the hinge pin.
 3. The container as in claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism between the container lid and the open second end of the container.
 4. The container as in claim 3, wherein the open second end comprises a recessed upper edge for mating with the container lid.
 5. The container as in claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a retention ridge protruding from the recessed upper edge, the retention ridge mateable with a notch in the container lid.
 6. The container as in claim 1, wherein the side walls are tapered so as to narrow the cylindrical housing from the open end to the closed first end.
 7. The container as in claim 1, wherein the carry handle is adapted for attachment to a backpack.
 8. The container as in claim 1, wherein the carry handle comprises an integrated carabiner, clip, key ring, or clasp. 